PIA Press Release
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 DavNor revenue, austerity measures to cushion impact of budget cutTAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte Jan. 18 (PIA) -- The province of Davao del Norte has reduced the impact of the 4.8 percent reduction in the internal revenue allotment (IRA) this year by adopting fiscal discipline and revenue and austerity measures. Governor Rodolfo P. del Rosario is quite optimistic the province will be able to hurdle the budget challenge with the several measures that his administration has put in place. To overcome the unpleasant IRA cut, del Rosario revealed the province strengthened revenue generation and enforced austerity measures and strict accountability among the Capitol officials and personnel. The province will continue to tap the resources of the national government, as well as, the overseas development assistance (ODA) funding opportunities. Leading the revenue generating measure of the province is the recently-approved Provincial Tax Ordinance 2011-001, otherwise known as the Revised Revenue Code of Davao del Norte. The governor is very much upbeat about the asset reforms resulting from the creation of the Provincial Economic Enterprise, which took the rein of the three district hospitals of the province. He further showed the great prospect of the mega projects in the province, such as the on-going P243-million Provincial Sports Complex, the P250 million worth of projects from the Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP-2), the P44-million school building program in partnership with the Department of Education and the hospital enhancement program in the amount of P78 million from the Department of Health. The four-year annual grant of over P40 million per year from the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) for the implementation of the Provincial Road Management Facility (PRMF) project in the province also helps in minimizing effects of the budget reduction. Some P100 million is already in the pipeline for the repair of some portion of the Talaingod-Bukidnon Road that was damaged by bad weather. The start of the construction of the Zero Kilometer, Asuncion Road going to Veruela, Agusan del Sur, which is now converted into a national highway further forebodes more economic opportunities for the province. Gov. del Rosario then urged the Capitol employees, and the people of Davao del Norte, to continue supporting his administration’s advocacy of fiscal prudence and austerity, espousing the management slogan, “maximum effectiveness at the least cost.” (PIO-DavNor/Noel Baguio) | 
